How to scan a QR code on iPhone?

How to scan documents on iPhone or iPad?

Scanning important documents is something we all need to do at some point of time in our lives. Scanning in both digital and physical formats is used primarily to keep records of essential documents or as proof of identity. Some situations where you may need to scan important documents and photos are employment, medical, and educational reasons besides personal reasons. However, you don’t need a big machine to scan these documents. Instead, you can use your iPhone or iPad to scan your essential documents. In this article, I am going to show how to scan documents on iPhone or iPad with its pre-installed ‘Notes’ app.

In today’s digital world QR codes have also become very popular as it allows us to access information quickly and easily. Scanning QR codes on business cards, promotional materials, or product packaging helps to access additional information or perform specific actions. iPhone users with the pre-installed camera can scan the image of the QR code to display text and contact information, connect to a wireless network, or open a web page in the phone’s browser. I have also shown below how to scan a QR code on iPhone which is used over a much wider range of applications.

Let’s first see how to scan documents iPhone.

How to scan documents on iPhone with ‘Notes’ app – a step by step guide

Here is how to scan documents with your iPhone using ‘Notes’ app:

Step 1. Open the ‘Notes’ app (you will find it on the Home screen) on your iPhone;

Step 2. Select an existing note or create a new note (tap the “+” icon at the bottom of the screen to create a new note);

Step 3. Tap the camera icon located above the keyboard which automatically appears within the note and then select “Scan Documents” from the menu. Now place your document under the view of the camera;

Step 4. Your iPhone’s camera will activate, and a yellow frame will appear around the document you want to scan. Ensure the document is well-lit and aligned within the frame;

Step 5. If your device is in Auto mode (the word Auto appears in the upper-right corner) your document will automatically adjust to the dimensions of the document and scan. If you need to capture a scan manually, tap the Shutter button (solid white circle) or one of the Volume buttons on the side of your iPhone to capture.

You can also press and hold the Shutter button to enable continuous scanning, allowing you to capture multiple pages in one go;

Step 6. After capturing the document, you can adjust the edges by dragging the blue dots to crop out any unnecessary portions. Then tap “Keep Scan” to save the scanned document;

Step 7. Once you’ve finished scanning all the pages, tap “Save” to store the scanned document in your note;

How to scan a QR code on iPhone  

Now that I have shown how to scan documents with your iPhone I also give below a step-by-step guide that shall walk you through how to scan a QR code on iPhone.

The process of scanning the QR code is quick and easy which is integrated into the Camera app. There is no need to install additional apps to scan the QR code. But one important point needs to be mentioned in this connection that not all iPhones can scan QR codes. The ability to scan QR codes is available on iPhones running iOS 11 or later versions.

Here is how to scan a QR code on iPhone:

Step 1. Open the Camera app on your iPhone;

Step 2. Position the QR code within the camera frame so that the full QR code is visible on the screen;

Step 3. The camera should now automatically recognize the QR code;

Step 4. Once the QR code is in focus and recognized a notification banner will appear at the top of the screen, showing the link or action related to the code;

Step 5. Now tap on the notification banner and it will take you straight to your browser. You will automatically be sent to the site or PDF that the QR code links to;

Another way to scan a QR code is by using your iPhone’s built-in Code Scanner. Here is how to scan using iPhone Code Scanner:

1. Go to settings and tap Control Centre;

2. Tap the green plus icon next to ‘Code Scanner’ to add it to your Control Centre;

3. Swipe down from the top right corner of your home screen and tap the Code Scanner;

4. This will take you to another form of your camera;

5. Now frame the code in the four white corners and wait;

6. Code Scanner will automatically show you what is linked in your browser;

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Frequently asked questions

Now that I have explained how to scan documents on iPhone using its pre-installed ‘Notes’ app and how to scan a QR code on iPhone, let me also address some of the related questions often asked by iPhone users.

 Can I scan documents in colour?

Yes, you can scan documents in colour of your choice (greyscale, or black and white). The scanning feature on your iPhone allows you to choose the preferred scanning mode within the scanning interface.

Can I edit scanned documents on my iPhone?

 Yes, you can use apps like Adobe Acrobat Reader or Microsoft Word to edit scanned documents on your iPhone.

Are there other apps besides ‘Notes’ that can scan documents on an iPhone?

Besides the ‘Notes’ app, several other third-party apps are available on the App Store to scan documents on an iPhone. Some of the most popular third-party apps are Adobe Scan, Microsoft Office Lens, Scanner Pro from Readdle, and Genius Scan.

Can iPhone scan images?

Yes, the iPhone can scan images using a few different methods, depending on the quality you’re looking for. In most situations, all you will need is your iPhone camera. However, you can also scan photos using the ‘Notes’ app and a couple of third-party apps that yield professional results.

Is there a free scanner app for iPhone?

Cam-Scanner is a free scanner app for iPhone that helps users scan, edit, store, and sync content across smartphones, iPads, tablets, and computers.

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Conclusion

On going through how to scan documents on iPhone described in the post it is clear that using the ‘Notes’ app is typically the easiest way to scan a document using an iPhone. The best thing about ‘Notes’ is that there is no restriction for additional scans and you can add multiple files on the device. Thanks to the user-friendly features of the Notes app. If you still struggle to use it, contact Apple support for quick assistance.

However, there are several other third-party apps available on the App Store which you can download on your iPhone if you would like to use another app for scanning.  Some popular options include Adobe Scan, Microsoft Office Lens, and Scanbot.